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Rhode Island Senate Republicans Unanimously Back Marriage Bill

State Senate GOP Caucus becomes first in the nation to stand united for marriage equality

WASHINGTON - Today the Rhode Island Senate Republican Caucus announced its support for a bill that would grant marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples, becoming the first unanimous decision by a legislative caucus of either party in the nation to back marriage equality legislation. The State Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to approve the legislation later today.

“This is a game changer,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Never before has an entire legislative caucus – much less a Republican caucus – unanimously backed marriage equality legislation. The bipartisan momentum for equality grows with each day that passes, and it’s becoming increasingly clearer that the walls of discrimination are crumbling. Our lawmakers in Washington and across the country should look to Rhode Island today as an example of what true leadership looks like.”

Upon passage of the bill, Rhode Island will become the tenth state where gay and lesbian couples can receive civil marriage licenses. The legislation was passed by the House 51-19 in January. Marriage equality legislation has received bipartisan support in each state where it has passed.

An increasing number of Republicans nationwide support marriage equality, including a majority of Republicans under the age of 50, according to a March Washington Post-ABC News poll. In an amicus brief filed in support of the Hollingsworth v. Perry case before the U.S. Supreme Court, more than 130 Republican leaders declared that gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marry.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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To contact HRC please visit our contact us page. If you are a member of the media, you can reach our press office at: (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.

5 Things to Know about LGBTQ Issues

1. There are roughly 10 million LGBTQ adults in the U.S., or roughly 4.1 percent of the population.

2. Sixteen percent of same-sex couples are raising children according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2011 Current Population Survey.

3. There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBTQ individuals from employment discrimination; there are no state laws in 28 states that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and in 30 states that do so based on gender identity.

4. More than 50 anti-LGBTQ bills have been filed in 19 state legislatures in the 2017 state legislative session.

5. The FBI reported 1,167 hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity in 2015. This is likely a dramatic undercount since thousands of agencies didn't submit any data and reporting is not mandatory.